Global Challenges

“Over the past 15 years Trevor has been an integral part of our Community Challenge programmes, leading several teams in Africa, SE Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. During this time he has been a great ambassador and an exemplary leader, proving to be an exceptionally organised and adaptable individual.”

- Simon Albert: Director, Challenges (Un)Limited

Creating calm from chaos…

Covering global challenges that have included house builds in South Africa and Nepal, schools in Mali and Brazil and tsunami and earthquake relief in India, Sri Lanka and Haiti, Agama has been instrumental in overseeing some truly inspirational projects worldwide.

From the frozen roof of Africa to the searing sands of the Sahara, Agama has been at the forefront in providing support, expertise and input for disaster relief programmes, desert treks and a rapidly growing list of corporate team-building challenges that have spanned the globe from the slums of Sao Paulo to the jungles of Indonesia.

Cambodia

A project set up in conjunction with Action Aid, Cambodia saw the construction of two community centres built for landmine victims in an area that for years had been at the heart of ethnic unrest. Located an hour's drive from the border town of Poipet, the two separate sites lay amidst a region that had been at the centre of Khmer Rouge activities during the latter years of the 1970s. Subsequently the operational and logistical priorities were further hampered by the continued presence of unexploded landmines in the area, an issue that presented safety and security issues for both locals and volunteers alike.

Nepal

Set in the remote landscapes of Bardia National Park, this Action Aid project worked closely with the Kamaiya people of western Nepal, bonded labourers who, for generations, have lived under a feudal system that was only abolished in recent years. With the group working and living amongst the local villagers, this community challenge saw the foundations completed for no fewer than 23 new homes, an enterprise that not only greatly benefited the Kamaiya, but was also a life-changing experience for all involved.

Haiti

On the afternoon of the 12 January 2010, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter Scale hit the tiny Caribbean island of Haiti. The epicentre lay just 10 miles from the centre of the country’s capital, Port au Prince, and the ensuing devastation killed over 230,000 people. It also left a further 300,000 injured and made over 1 million people homeless. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with over 80% of its population living below the poverty line, the earthquake brought unimaginable suffering to the Haitian capital. On the 6 month anniversary of the quake I led a team of journalists out to Haiti to cover the story of the ongoing relief efforts.

Sri Lanka

Just after midnight on 26 December 2004 an undersea earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra caused one of the most catastrophic humanitarian disasters in history. The subsequent tsunami swamped many of the coastal communities that lay scattered across the Indian Ocean. One of the places worst affected was the beautiful island of Sri Lanka, off the southern coast of India. This enterprise, in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, involved leading volunteer teams on projects that saw the completion of new homes and medical centres along the devastated southwest coast.

India

Gathering together from all four corners of the globe a team from Reckitt Benckiser (RB) and Save the Children headed out to India in October 2017 to help instigate a school renovation programme as part of a Stop Diarrhoea Initiative. Living and working amongst the rural communities around Bahraich, in Uttar Pradesh, there were numerous logistical challenges in getting the three teams to the heart of communities that were amongst some of the poorest in the region.

Kenya

In February 2017, 40 trekkers from GSK hiked to the summit of Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest mountain. Gathered from 24 different countries, they embarked on a journey that would eventually see them reach nearly 5,000 metres and raise over a quarter of a million pounds in much needed funds for Save the Children. My challenge was to get them up there and back safely…and in time for an unforgettable sunrise!